Chapter 4: The Heart’s Betrayal

Because of all this, I even started thinking about joining Michael’s angelic order.

The spirits at Devil’s Drop tried to talk me out of it: "Angels are cold fish—most of them spend their lives chasing enlightenment, not romance. Especially Michael Carter, sword prodigy number one. Autumn, don’t lose your head!"

Even the boy in Devil’s Cave said, "Don’t go."

Back before the mountain spirits got chatty, he was my only friend, though I’d never seen his face.

But I’d made up my mind.

"I’ll come back to see you, Sebastian." Standing outside the cave, I waved. "I’m leaving."

The moonlight was calm and steady, but the cave stayed silent.

With a small duffel and a heart full of nerves, I left Devil’s Drop—my home for a century—ready for whatever was next.

Michael’s angelic order was called St. Gabriel’s, the top dog among the four great orders.

On the day I joined, only Michael and a senior named Olivia Monroe bothered to greet me.

Most of the order were proud as peacocks, obsessed with bloodlines, and had no time for a lone guardian like me.

But honestly? I didn’t care. I only cared about Michael.

But Michael, being chief swordsman and all, was always off hunting demons or fighting evil. In the three months since I joined, I saw him just once—the day he welcomed me.

Olivia tried to cheer me up: "Michael’s the real deal. Since the last archangel, nobody’s matched him, so the elders dump everything on his plate."

From day one, I made my intentions clear.

I wasn’t here for power or immortality—just for Michael.

So, in front of Olivia, I didn’t hide a thing. "Then can you take me to see him, Olivia? I promise, I won’t stir up trouble!"

"Leaving the sanctuary without permission means a one-way ticket to the Discipline Board."